According to a number of players in the French squad, the Manchester United midfielder had a prominent leadership role in the dressing room during the global showpiece.

In a documentary that aired on French television recently, Pogba showed he is cut out to be a leader as he gave his teammates a rousing pep talk ahead of their round of 16 tie against Argentina in Kazan.

"I want to see warriors on the field, guys," he told his teammates in a scene from the documentary aired by TF1.

"I do not want to go home! We will finish happy! I want to party tonight. I want to be dead on the field, all together! I want men, warriors, soldiers.

"Today we will 'kill' them. Messi or no Messi, I do not care! We come to win this f****** World Cup!"